University Leaders Weigh Downside of Huge Increase in Federal Spending

By PAUL BASKEN

After a month of celebrating the largest boost in federal
spending on scientific research that most of them have ever seen,
university presidents are increasingly tuned to the possibility of
a downside.

The new money — primarily from a $21.5-billion jump in
research-and-development spending in the economic-stimulus
law — is certainly welcome, several university presidents and
higher-education officials said last week during a lobbying trip to
Capitol